Sony Music has public ly addressed the furor between Kesha and producer Dr Luke, saying the company is “not in a position to terminate the contractual relationship between the two artist”.
Sony Music lawyer Scott A Edelman said, “Sony is doing everything it can to support the artist in these circumstances, but is legally unable to terminate the contract to which it is not a party.”
The initial contract with Kesha, signed in 2005, was between her and Kasz Money, Dr Luke’s company, reported Billboard. From there, Luke brought the agreement, in 2009, to Sony Music subsidiary RCA/Jive, signing what amounts to a distribution deal on that initial 2005 contract.
Two years later, RCA/Jive CEO Barry Weiss left that company for Universal Music Group (he’s since moved on from UMG), which prompted the dissolution of RCA/Jive and the shuttling, yet again, of Kesha’s contract to Kemosabe Records, a new Sony Music subsidiary set up in the wake of RCA/Jive’s demise.
Through these various agreements, breakups, formations and transfers, Kasz Money essentially licensed its contract with Kesha to various Sony Music subsidiaries, but retained ownership of the agreement throughout. (PTI)
